estro

So I survived the second (of three!) of my sister-in-law's BabyShower's ®™ feeling just as appalled at the creepy consumerism* as at the first, but a little less like the weirdo that had to be invited. And while my sister-in-law didn't appreciate the vampire pacifier her family thought it was hilarious, and my brother loved the Bay Bridge onesie. Sadly, I suspect it won't actually get used as it is not pink or ruffled.

So. Much. Pink. If I ever am fortunate enough to be a mom, I am going to tell folks I am expecting a boy, no matter what I am actually carrying...unless I can get someone to give me a "The Turkey Baster's Little Princess" onesie.

I have this suspicion that my lack of concern for conformative image and affluence means I won't get much time with my niece. My do-it-yourself or get it cheap on craigslist lifestyle is in stark contrast to their pristine show-room floor household.

Speaking of households, moving is going apace. I have mostly been doing it on my own in small batches, which, given that I have till the end of the month to get everything shifted over from my dark little cave to the sunny aerie, is probably the right way to do it. I have been using a handtruck and furniture dolly to walk my household over (the apartments are 4/5 of a mile apart). Not just boxes, my furniture too. This morning a guy on a bike cheered for me as I was pushing one of my bookshelves down the street and ragingamazon (my new housemate) is thoroughly entertained by the sporadic appearance of new domestic items.

*for the record, I do own up to my own consumerism (How many boxes of books have I moved? I have multiples sizes of ramekins? Oh, god.... let us not discuss the mini RC helicopters...), I just find theirs a bit creepy as *everything* has to be new and matching, if it gets broken it gets thrown out rather than repaired, and there is an alarming dearth of books.

This morning's bit of wake-up doom: 2/3 of California's native plants could be wiped out by the end of the century (Radio article that I woke up to here)

Yes, I am most at home with towering buildings, dense populations, and noisy machinery... but it doesn't mean that I don't feel the strong Love You and Keep You* that chapparral seems to have for me when I do venture out. The thought that this may be soon be lost is deeply saddening.

I really should know better than to wake up to NPR/Public Radio in the morning... and inflicting it on someone else was entirely inconsiderate. Particularly as this article was followed by the report on this weekend's suicide bombers in Iraq. "Good morning Starshine! Sorry about the death and stuff. Have a bowl of Cheerios..."

*Apologies and nods to thewronghands.